It
may have been more of a mammoth than a dog-sized task, but
Pets at Home has announced it has raised a huge £124,000
for Dogs for the Disabled throughout 2002.

The stores raised funds through a variety of fun activities
in stores and selling the charity's mascot, 'Hero' the cuddly
toy dog. The six top fundraising stores were Andover, Aintree,
Durham, Norwich (Sprowston Retail Park), Redhill and Swansea.

The money raised by Pets at Home will now be used to help
10 partnerships created by the charity. Called 'Team Pets
at Home', the project ranges from pups like Riley, a 17 week
old puppy, to Venny who has been with his owner Marie for
four years. The funds will help not only with training costs
for the dogs, but also with the back-up and aftercare which
every partnership created by the charity receives.

Michelle Begley, head of marketing at Pets at Home, said:
"As a company focused on helping people and pets get
the most out of their relationship this is a fantastic charity
for Pets at Home to support. We worked really hard to raise
this money, and to know it will be put to direct use ensuring
great partnerships for 10 dogs and their owners, is a great
reward."

Caroline Taylor, publicity and fundraising manager for Dogs
for the Disabled, said: "The support Pets at Home continues
to give us is fantastic. It takes huge commitment and cost
to train dogs to the level they need to reach before we can
partner them with a suitable owner. But it's worth every penny
when you see a partnership leave our training centre in Banbury.
Pets at Home has not only raised an enormous amount of money
for us, but they have also helped us publicise the charity
with displays in store, educational and fundraising activities
with customers - and not forgetting little Hero!"

Pets at Home is currently developing plans to support the
charity in a new appeal next year and hopes to raise even
more money to help Dogs for the Disabled continue its vital
work.